Florists experience Valentine's Day crunch

SPRING LAKE, N.C. (WTVD) -- It's the biggest day of the year for love and florists.

"It's been very busy but it's been very good," said Jan Garza of Skyland Florist in Spring Lake. "We look forward to this day every year.

It's tiring but it's very exciting."

Garza said she and her workers have already filled 500 orders. Fourteen drivers will deliver those flowering messages of love starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

She has an army of customers from Fort Bragg as well as orders phoned in from deployed troops.

"They get roses. They get lilies, candy, a little bit of everything. Our soldiers are very good clients, "said Garza.

Five-year-old Bailey Jordan spent just a few minutes to pick out a Special bouquet of flowers for her mom.

"I like to give her a card, because I love her," she said. "She is my favorite mom."

And that kind of love has the hearts of florists everywhere fluttering again this year. Nationwide, it's estimated more than $2 billion will be spent on Valentine flowers sold by the dozens or stems.

Love this year is not cheap. A dozen long stem roses at the florist will set you back $50 to $85.

An estimated 6 million proposals are made on Valentine's Day. Local magistrates expect a flood of love struck couple to say "I do" before them. One couple, Chris and Bailey Wagner, tied their knot a day early even though they married on Friday the 13th.

The young couple say it's the luckiest day of their lives.

"How excited I am to be with him," said the new Mrs. Bailey Wagner.

"This is probably the biggest day of my life," said Chris Wagner. "She is everything. Like anything I can dream of, that's her."